Soot blowing and cleaning apparatus for boilers, economizers, or the like



y 3, 1938. J. w. L. SIMPSON 2,115,885

SOOT BLOWING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR BOILERS, ECONOMIZERS, OR THE LIKE Filed June 2, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 May 3, 1938. 2,115,885 SOOT BLOWING AND CLEANING APPARATUS'FOR, BOILERS, ECONOMI'ZERS, OR THE LIKE J. w. L. SIMPSON 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z bvvewroe Jo/m WL $IMP60N @727? 7% 4770? tags H May 3, 1938. J. w. L. slMPsoN SOOT BLOWING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR BOILERS, ECONOMIZERS, OR THE LIKE Filed June 2, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 N zf M ,5 s v V M T w r N 4 W p Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES soo'r BLOWING AND! CLEANING Ame-i TUS FOR BOILERS, .EooNomzEns, on

THE LIKE John William Leslie Simpson, Littliaover, Derby,

Englamf Application June 2, 1936, Serial No. 83,170 j In Great Britain June 11, 1935 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in and relating to soot blowing andtube cleaning ,ap: paratus for boilers, economizers or the like and more particularly for use in the removal of soot and other combustion products from the exterior of banks of tubes of tube boilers, eco-nomizers or the like. Apparatus for this purpose have heretofore been proposed adapted to provide a plurality of jets in close proximity to the tubes whereby blasts of steam are impinged on the tubes, one such arrangement involvingthe use of a number of vertical parallel pipesa-rranged in a line and depending from an upper transverse pipe forming in conjunction with a longitudi- 15 nal pipe a T shaped supply conduit adapted to be fed backwards and forwards along the top of the bank of tubes whereby nozzles projecting from the depending pipes project jets of steam directly against the tubes. These nozzles are arranged in sets at intervals along each depending pipe, each set comprising four nozzles, two; projecting upwardly and outwardly and the other two downwardly and outwardly so that each set impinges jets of steam directly against the adjacent sides of four tubes. Such an arrangement necessarily involves the use of a large number of jets in very close proximity to the tubes, and also eachjet is only effective as regards a quarter of the circumference of a single tube as 1311391163115? 30 ing fluid or steam which loses its velocity very quickly is rendered substantially inert immediately it has impinged directly against the tubes. The object of my present invention is to provide a soot blower or tube cleaning apparatus of a like 3 nature in which a number of nozzles or jets are provided the streams of cleansing fluid from each of which covers a large useful area of tube surface without the necessity of carrying a number of pipes along the spaces between the tubes 40 with consequent deposit of soot on such pipes, and also without having to have nozzles in close individual proximity to all of the tubes, andyet to remove from the exterior of the tubes the deposits of soot, dust, ashes and other foreign deposits which adversely afifect the efficiency of the boilers, economizers and the like.

The present invention is particularly useful in conjunction with banks of tubes arranged in staggered formation or spaced in such manner as to provide a number of parallel diagonal lines of spaces between lines of tubes.

The present invention is broadly characterized by the provision of a plurality of nozzles or jets each adapted to project a stream of pressure cleaning fluid in close proximity toa plurality of tubes, said nozzles and jetsbeing arranged in such manner that substantially all ofthe tubes are swept at four points substantially tangentially by the streams of pressure cleaning fluid.

Summarized thisinvention may beregarded as a soot blower which comprises steam or other fluid pressure delivery nozzles or jets, arranged so that each. nozzle or jet is adapted to project pressure fluid in a stream between a plurality of pairs of tubes, the nozzles or jets being translatively movable along one side of a bank of tubes and arranged so that the axes of some traverse planes intersecting the planes containing the axes of the others.

In a practical form of this invention a soot blower is provided with a series of sets of nozzles with their axes directed diagonally in relation to the bank of tubes, the diiierent sets of diagonally directed nozzles being arranged iii-opposite directions so that the streams of steam or other cleansing fluid issuing from the sets of nozzles will crosseach other. The nozzles may be mounted upon a tubular member or rake disposedclose to the banks of tubes to be cleaned and arranged substantially transversely to the length of such tubes. Two sets of nozzles are preferably arranged on the transverse tubular member or rake, one set being directed diagonally to one side and the. other set diagonally toward the other side of a bank of tubes so that the streams of steam or other cleansing fluid issuing from the two sets of nozzles, will pass between the staggered tubes and will cross each other preferably without intersecting so that the whole surface of the tubes will be effectively treated. The hollow tubular member or rake is suitably supported in guides preferably arranged adjacent to or supported from the bank .of tubes to be treated and is so arranged that it may slide along such guides in a direction parallel to the axis of the tubes. Any number of such trans verse tubular members or rakes may be connected toa common supply pipe which is also sup ported so that it may move with the transverse tubular members or rakes. This tubular supply pipe is connected to a source of pressure fluid such as steam, compressed air or other cleansing material which will pass from; it to. the various transverse tubular members or rakes and will issue from the oppositely directed; diagonally disposed nozzles thereon. The feed or supply tube may pass through a suitable supporting socket mounted in the casing of the boiler, economizer or the like having suitable; packing glands and means for ,rnoving the supply tube ax ally to and fro for the purpose of traversing the transverse tubular members or rakes with their nozzles over the surface of the banks of tubes to be cleaned. Suitable means for supporting and operating the supply tube may be in accordance with the arrangement described in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 62,972 but it is to be clearly understood that the invention can be applied to and used in conjunction with those forms of apparatus in which the pressure supply conduit or blower tube is capable of longitudinal movement whether such movement is achieved by manual or mechanical means. The supply tube and the transverse tubular membersor rakes may be slidably supported upon guides arranged in the boiler, economizers or the like and such guides may be of angle or channel form withwhich may engage rollers or guides supported upon brackets secured to the supply tube and the transverse tubular members or rakes. The nozzles may be constructed on the injector principle having a centrally disposed steam outlet surrounded by an annular opening or nozzle through which air or hot gases will be drawn and projected toward the tubes or other surface to becleaned.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into efiect I have appended hereto 3 sheets of drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, and wherein Fig. 1 is a broken sectional elevation showing the invention in use with an economizer having a plurality of longitudinal tubes arranged in staggered formation. 7

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation to a larger scale of Fig. 1 showing an arrangement for controlling a pair of soot blowing apparatus from points in close proximity to each other so that both may be actuated simultaneously by a single operator.

Fig. 4 is a detail view in broken perspective to a still larger scale showing a. convenient method of supporting and guiding the blower head having the nozzles therein, and

Fig. 5 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of a suitable arrangement of feeding device for traversing a blower head and also for automatically opening and closing a steam or other fluid supply conduit.

Referring to the drawings a pressure fluid supply tube I extends along the space above a bank of gilled or other suitable tubes 2 of an economizer, these tubes'being staggered as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The tubes may be boiler tubes, e. g. in Fig. 4 the two rows of tubes shown may be boiler tubes connected at the ends to headers, not shown, to avoid obscuring the tubes. This tube is adapted to be advanced and retracted axially by suitable controlling means which also opens and closes a valve regulating the supply of steam or other pressure fluid. to the tube I. This controlling means may take the form of that described in my co-pending application serial No. 62,972 in which a blower head, which takes the place of the tube I, is housed in a chamber 3 in the boiler shell or other part of the plant, said tube I being adapted to be advanced axially into the said chamber 3 by means of a nut 4 and feed screw 5 or other traversing mechanism operated manually or from a distance, the advance movement of the said nozzle effecting the opening of a valve 6 normally closed by the pressure fluid working in conjunction with the screw thread mechanism, so that the fluid-is delivered to the nozzle. As described in my said co-pending application this valve can be of the mushroom type adapted to be pressed between two seatings 8 and I carried by the rear or inner end of the tube I and the outlet end of a supply conduit 9 respectively, the pressure of steam from the conduit 9 behind the valve maintaining the valve 6 on. the seating] for an initial portion of the outward stroke of the tube I until the end 60, of the valve abuts against a central guide ID of the valve 8. In the present invention the valve 6 may be adapted to remain open for a greater proportion of the movement of the tube I as it is proposed to clean the tubes 2 as the tube I traverses backwards and forwards.

The tube I extends centrally along a substantial portion of the length of tubes 2 and extending from it are a plurality of transverse tubular elements II each'of which has disposed along its lower face a plurality of nozzles arranged in two sets, one set of which, indicated by the reference numeral I2, have their axes inclined so as to coincide with the diagonal gaps between lines of superposed tubes as indicated by the dotted lines I2a. in Fig. 3, the other set of nozzles, indicated by the reference numeral I3 being inclined in the opposite diagonal direction so as to have their '1.

axes coincident with the diagonal gaps between the tubes which intersect those previously referred to as indicated by the dotted lines I3a.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the central supply tube I has projecting therefrom a plurality of tubular rake like arms, i. e. the tubular elements I I, and is arranged for a traversing movement over the parts to be cleaned, for instance the finned or 'gilled tubes 2 of a boiler economizer and for this purpose there is provided an arrangement of guides or skids along which the parts may be propelled by suitable hand or power operated mechanism which is preferably that employed in my said co-pending application for advancing and retracting the supply conduit.

A suitable arrangement consists in suspending the supply conduit I and the projecting arms I I by means of lugs or arms I4 having rollers Ma adapted to run along guides, e. g. angle bars I5 secured to the framework or casing of the part of the apparatus to be cleaned, the amount of movement imparted being governed by that of the blower head or operating mechanism which also determines the distance between the transverse rake-like arms. readily fitted or removed through suitable inspection doors provided in the wall of the economizer or other part of the boiler apparatus.

The lugs I icarried'by the supply tube I can be located at their upper ends between a symmetrical pair of angle bars I5 as shown in Fig. 4, the rollers I40. thereof being arranged in pairs. and disposed opposite sides of the appropriate lugs I4 to provide a form of suspension for the tube I. The rollers Ma carried by the lugs at the ends of the transverse tubes II can have grooved peripheries as also shown in Fig. 4, and these can engage flanged or upturned edges I 5a. of the appropriate bars I5 thereby preventing the lugs I4 from pressing laterally against the angle bars I5, this being desirable to obviate excessive fric tion opposing the action of the feed mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Where it is required to readily control from a suitable point a number of mechanisms for feeding a number of soot blowing apparatus, e. g. as shown in Fig. 3 where two banks of tubes are arranged one above'the other, worm shafts 5a operating the nuts 4 of the separate feeding mechanism, indicated in Fig. 3 at 3a and 3b,

The elements may be I operating hand wheels Hi can be located close together and one of these can be carried by a shaft I! connected by a universal or flexible coupling l8 to the appropriate worm shaft a. The other hand wheel can be carried by a vertical shaft l9 geared as at 26 to a horizontal shaft 2! connected to the other Worm shaft 5a.

The nozzles I2 and 13 are preferably arranged in pairs close together as shown in Fig. 4 so as to lie across each other, the jets of steam or other pressure fluid issuing therefrom extending along intersecting planes although the jets of steam or other pressure fluid preferably do not come into actual contact with each other to avoid breaking up the jets and to leave them unrestricted access to the sides of the tubes. It will be seen that by this arrangement each tube is subjected to the cleaning influence of pressure fluid traversing somewhat tangentially across each tube at four points, and therefore this invention could be described as consisting in an arrangement of nozzles which project pressure cleaning fluid substantially tangentially across the tubes 2 in such manner as to treat substantially all of the tubes on all sides.

The arrangement described is particularly suitable for boilers or economizers and the like having banks of tubes arranged in staggered formation such tubes being provided with or without fins or gills. Where the tubes are otherwise arranged the nozzles of the rake-like arms may be arranged accordingly to project jets at right angles or any other required direction.

If necessary, depending on the temperature and condition of the gases of combustion, the parts can be in suitable heat and corrosion resisting material.

An apparatus according to my invention may be installed in any convenient part of a boiler plant such as the shell or header of the boiler or in the superheater or economizer and provides a positive and simple method of periodically removing the soot, dust and ashes from the tubes and other parts which being exposed to the hot combustion gases must be kept clear of obstruction.

I claim:-

1. A soot blower, for removing soot and other deposits from the exterior of tubes arranged in banks, comprising a pressure fluid supply tube adapted to be located close to one side of a bank of tubes and longitudinally relatively thereto, means for reciprocating said supply tube axially during passage of cleaning fluid therethrough, a transverse tubular element projecting from said supply tube, a rake like arrangement of nozzles on said transverse tubular element so arranged that they project streams of pressure cleaning fluid therefrom along intersecting planes for the purpose set forth, a pair of guide rails parallel with and narrowly spaced from said supply tube, rollers carried by the said supply tube and each engaged with and located between said pair of guide rails, an outer pair of guide rails, and rollers carried by the outer ends of said transverse tubular element running on said outer rails.

2. A soot blower, for removing soot and other deposits from the exterior of tubes arranged in banks, comprising a pressure fluid supply tube adapted to be located close to one side of a bank of tubes and longitudinally relatively thereto, means for reciprocating said supply tube axially during passage of cleaning fluid therethrough, a number of transverse tubes extending from said supply tube and spaced apart a. distance approximately equal to the distance of axial travel of said supply tube, a rake like arrangement of nozzles on said transverse tubes so arranged that they project streams of pressure cleaning fluid therefrom along intersecting planes for the purpose set forth, a pair of guide rails parallel with and disposed above said supply tube,'upstanding brackets carried by said supply tube and located between said pair of guide rails, rollers on said brackets running on said guide rails, a further pair of guide rails parallel with the beforementioned rails and disposed above the outer ends of said transverse tubular elements, upstanding brackets on said transverse tubular elements, and rollers carried thereby running on said further pair of guide rails.

JOHN WILLIAM LESLIE SIMPSON. 

